Introduction Thermopylae, view from electricity mast. Today, there is a memorial at the place where the Spartans fought the Persian army. But if you are passing through, definitely worth stopping to see where one of the more important battles to western history. After a few days, the Marines would have amassed a stunning body count, possibly even as high as the 20,000 Persians credited to Leonidas and his forces, but they would be burned out of Thermopylae. The Persian army, alleged by the ancient sources to have numbered over one million, but today considered to have been much smaller (various figures are given by scholars, ranging between about 100,000 and 150,000) arrived at the pass in late August or early September. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Thermopýles (Thermopylae), central Greece. In the seventh book of his Histories, Herodotus offers a description of the topography of the battlefield of Thermopylae. Leonidas’s troops held the pass for three days until the Persians, guided along another mountain pass by the Greek traitor Ephialtes, outflanked them. Perhaps better known today as “that battle from the movie 300,” the Battle of Thermopylae was an epic, three-day face-off between a small group of Greek soldiers and the massive Persian Army in 480 B.C. 2020 marks the 2,500th anniversary of the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE (technically it is the 2,499th). Over time the shoreline has moved farther away from the mountains. The vessel is en route to the port of Zeebrugge, and expected to arrive there on Jan 9, 17:00.. Enemy assaults would make it deeper into the pass each time as engineers whittled away at the Marines’ defenses and artillery crews braved American guns to get rounds onto the defenders’ heads. Having been turned back at Marathon in 490 BC, Persian forces returned to Greece ten years later to avenge their defeat and conquer the peninsula. The battle was fought for over three days, at … For the ancient Greeks this place was sacred. It's certainly an unique experience standing on the hill top and imaging what took place there.If you are interested in the battle itself. In reality, the road is essentially from the west to the east, as you can see on the satellite photo above, but Herodotus presents it as if it is from the north to the south. Contact Send Message. Furthermore, in Laconia, King Leonidas of Sparta was training men for the same reason: to counter a possible attack even the Persians in Greece. Leonidas organized one final effort with 300 Spartans to defend the pass; this battle ultimately proved fatal for him[19]. The Battle of Thermopylae was fought in central Greece at the mountain pass of Thermopylae in 480 BCE during the Persian Wars. Thermopylae is a narrow pass on the east coast of central Greece between the Kallídhromon massif and the Gulf of Maliakós, about 85 miles (136 kilometers) northwest of Athens (Athína). 24° SUN. The battle was fought for over three days, at the same time as the naval Battle of Artemisium on 20 August or 8–10 September, 480 BC. In antiquity, the pass at Thermopylae, between Mt Kallidromos and the Maliakos Gulf, was the only practical route for large armies to reach southern Greece and thus the site of many a skirmish. Thermopylae, also known as Hot Gates, is a small region in Central Greece, carrying the legend and valor of a great and touching moment in Greek history. Visit Delphi on the beautiful slopes of Mount Parnassus, a major center of worship in the ancient world. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. On the southern side of the track stood the cliffs, while on the north side was the gulf. The Hot Gates is "the place of hot springs" and in Greek mythology it is the cavernous entrances to Hades. Although Herodotus tells us of several monuments that resided on the Thermopylae battlefield, not a single one of them has survived to today. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Thermopylae Today. Omissions? Look at other dictionaries: battle of Thermopylae — noun a famous battle in 480 BC; a Greek army under Leonidas was annihilated by the Persians who were trying to conquer Greece • Syn: ↑Thermopylae • Regions: ↑Greece, ↑Hellenic Republic, ↑Ellas • Instance Hypernyms: ↑pitched battle … Useful english dictionary. Today, the seaside mountain pass at Thermopylae in Greece looks very different than it did 2,500 years ago. The battle was fought for over three days, at the same time as the naval Battle of Artemisium on 20 August or 8–10 September, 480 BC. It derives its name from several natural hot water springs. But in 480 BC the water was closer to the road — thus creating a narrow land pass which the outnumbered Spartans used to their advantage against the invading Persians. The pass, some 4 miles (6 km) in length, has figured in numerous invasions. By itself, I am not so sure. But the Greeks, led by Leonidas and a small army of Spartan warriors, took the battle to … In 480 B.C., the mighty Persian king Xerxes led a massive force to the narrow mountain pass called Thermopylae, anticipating no significant resistance in his bid to conquer Greece. But the battle lives on to the present day largely due to the ideals of sacrifice, bravery and patriotism it represented. Thermopylae, view from electricity mast. An alliance of Greek city-states of about 6,700 men fought the invading Persian Empire, which had an army of about 242,000 men, at the pass of Thermopylae in … Also consider visiting the National Archoelogical Muesum in Athens. After the battle was finally won by the Persians and the remaining rear guard of … It's enough there for 30 minutes perhaps and it's somewhat out of the way. One in particular pays tribute to the last stand of the Spartans and their Thespian allies on Kolonos Hill, the probable spot where they fell. On the first day, Xerxes sent his Median and Kissian troops, and after their failure to clear the … Thermopylae, Modern Greek Thermopýles, also spelled Thermopílai, narrow pass on the east coast of central Greece between the Kallídhromon massif and the Gulf of Maliakós, about 85 miles (136 km) northwest of Athens (Athína). Xerxes had amassed one of the largest armies yet known to man, while Leonidas’s troops, a group of united Spartans, Thespians, Thebans, and others, including slaves, were a small fraction of the Persian horde. It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. Publisher Sega. The Greek rearguard, meanwhile, was annihilated, with a probable loss of 2,000 men, including those killed on the first two days of battle. Thermopylae definition, a pass in E Greece, between the cliffs of Mt. Homepage Dawnofwar.com. 5Days Grand Private Tour from Athens (From $2,072.79) Delphi & Meteora Two Days Tour from Athens (From $223.79) Proud Thermopylae & Famous … In antiquity its cliffs were by the sea, but silting has widened the distance to more than a mile. In the Battle of Thermopylae (as detailed almost entirely by Herodotus), which occurred in 480 BC, an alliance of Greek city-states fought the invading Persian Empire at the pass of Thermopylae in central Greece. Passage from north to south along the east coast of the Balkan peninsula requires use of the pass. The Thermopylae, the "hot gates" or also "gates of fire," is a mountain pass at the foot of Mount Kallidromo in modern Greece where legend tells that King Leonidas and 300 of … Updates? In 480 BC, a huge Persian army, led by the inimitable King Xerxes, entered the mountain pass of Thermopylae as it marched on Greece, intending to conquer the land with little difficulty. The current position of THERMOPYLAE is at North Sea (coordinates 51.30884 N / 3.22561 E) reported 1 min ago by AIS. Enemy assaults would make it deeper into the pass each time as engineers whittled away at the Marines’ defenses and artillery crews braved American guns to get rounds onto the defenders’ heads. Thermopylae, a mountain pass delineated by the Phocian Wall on one side and the Aegean Sea on the other, measured the width of two carts abreast. more, “Modern day site of the Battle of Thermopylae”. Changes in the sea level mean that these days, the hills at Thermopylae now skirt an alluvial plain [a mainly flat landform]. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Oeta and the Gulf of Lamia: Persian defeat of the Spartans 480 b.c. In Greece, the occasion has been commemorated with a new set of stamps and coins (all very official). The Battle of Marathon had shown that Greek forces would be able to defeat the Persians if they could force them into tight areas where their superior numbers no longer mattered. Sending the majority of his troops to safety, Leonidas remained to delay the Persians with 300 Spartans, their helots, and 1,100 Boeotians, all of whom died in battle. Today, the seaside mountain pass at Thermopylae in Greece looks very different than it did 2,500 years ago. Game watch Follow. But the Greeks—led by King Leonidas and a small army of Spartans—took the battle to the Persians at Thermopylae, and halted their advance—almost. The Battle of Thermopylae has been recreated in various mediums throughout the centuries, ... his men, Leonidas ordered the Greeks to retreat. In Greece, the occasion has been commemorated with a new set of stamps and coins (all very official). No doubt many people would be interested to visit the modern site of the Battle of Thermopylae after watching the movie "300" in 2007. The vessel THERMOPYLAE (IMO: 9702443, MMSI 229711000) is a Vehicles Carrier built in 2015 (6 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Malta. A large marble and bronze monument commemorating the battle was erected in 1955. When defending a narrow pass like the one at Thermopylae a phalanx was basically impenetrable to any attacks, the long spears deterring the attackers from advancing. At the time, the pass of Thermopylae consisted of a track along the shore of the Gulf of Malis so narrow that only one chariot could pass through. ((The topography… There is a display explaining the real battle with weapons found at the site. Great piles of Persian dead choked the pass by the end of the 9th, but nothing that Xerxes could throw at … 22° FRI. 24° SAT. Although the Persians won at Thermopylae and conquered central Greece, they suffered considerable losses in the battle, and most of the Greek troops and ships were able to escape to the Isthmus of Corinth to rejoin the main Greek forces. Thermopylae is located in eastern central Greece on the only land route large enough to bear any significant traffic between Lokrisand Thessaly. Thermopylae today. We have reviews of the best places to see in Thermopylae. The Battle of Thermopylae, 480 BC, was a battle in the second Persian invasion of Greece. On the third, the Persians were able to flank the Greek position after being a shown a mountain path by a Trachinian traitor named Ephialtes. was scarcely 100 yards wide, a visitor to the battlefield today would find the ocean more than a mile away. Today the pass at Thermopylae is far inland, up to 6 km from the sea, because of sediment infill in the Gulf of Malia, largely from the Sperchios River, and from local hot springs deposits (Plate R2). … On 31 March Greece has issued a 2 euro circulation coin dedicated to the Battle of Thermopylae 2,500 years ago. After careful preparations, the Persian king Xerxes decided to attack the Yaunâ (Greeks) in the summer of 480. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The sea has receded over the years and it's now several kilometres away. Holding the pass could block an invader and even turn him back, though on all three of the famous occasions the defense of the pass failed. The pass had also been fortified by the local Phokians who built a defensive wall running from the so-called Middle Gate down to the sea. Apparently the hot spring is still there. A Greek force of approximately 7,000 men marched north to block the pass in the middle of 480 BC. If you visit the site expecting a coastline with cliffs - you will be disappointed. Further west the way is blocked by mountains and the Gulf of Corinth. Icon. Because much of Greece is mountainous, the invading Persians were forced to take a fairly non-linear approach to the Greek heartland, one that wound its way along the coast. A Fallen King. Follow Profile. The Battlefield and Memorial at Thermopylae Today - YouTube The Spartans famously blocked the pass at Thermopylae, in order to arrest the Persian army’s descent into Greece. A highway today rests where the shore was more than 2500 years ago. There is also a more ancient (and touching in my opinion) clay tablet on top of the hill nearby where the Spartans made their last stand. See more. Sandwiched between mountains and sea, the pass was perhaps two to five metres wide at its entry point and about 15 metres in the middle where the battle was fought. Clearly Thermopylae was a location of great strategic importance, because it commands the pass through which one goes after traveling south from Thessaly through Lokris and into Boeotia. The mountains of Thermopylae as they appear today. Sit back in full leather comfort in one of our new Black Mercedes E-Class, AudiA6 or Mercedes Minivans models with WiFi as you travel from Athens to explore two UNESCO World Heritage sites on this private tour. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. In ancient times its cliffs were by the sea, but silting has widened the distance to more than a mile. Addon. Release date Released 2006. A critical point in this invasion was the battle for the pass at Thermopylae—“Hot Gates” in Greek. While history is not favorable to the ancient Achaemenid Persians when it comes to Greek wars, it should be noted that… Map updates are paused. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Thermopylae, Ancient History Encyclopedia - Thermopylae, Greece, Thermopylae - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The pass of Thermopylae, located 150 km north of Athens was an excellent choice for defence with steep mountains running down into the sea leaving only a narrow marshy area along the coast. It’s little spoiler to say the Greeks lost. The pass of Thermopylae, located 150 km north of Athens was an excellent choice for defence with steep mountains running down into the sea leaving only a narrow marshy area along the coast. ((The topography… Browse Addons. Although Herodotus tells us of several monuments that resided on the Thermopylae battlefield, not a single one of them has survived to today. Thermopylae today. Developer Relic Entertainment. At a certain point, this route necessarily goes through a narrow pass, named Thermopylae. Marathon & Thermopylae Battlefields Private Day Tour from Athens (From $267.55) All you need to know about Greece! However, there are numerous modern recreations. Corrections? New Add addon. In 480 B.C., a huge Persian army, led by the inimitable King Xerxes, entered the mountain pass of Thermopylae to march on Greece, intending to conquer the land with little difficulty. The pass during 480 B.C. One in particular pays tribute to the last stand of the Spartans and their Thespian allies on Kolonos Hill, the probable spot where they fell. The nearby Spercheios River has deposited enough sediment to considerably widen the once-narrow strip of land (Sacks 246). The ancient name of the region was Malis after the Malians (Ancient Greek: Μαλιεῖς), a Greek tribe that resided at the mouth of the river Sper… In 480 BC, a huge Persian army, led by the inimitable King Xerxes, entered the mountain pass of Thermopylae as it marched on Greece, intending to conquer the land with little difficulty. But the Greeks—led by King Leonidas and a small army of Spartans—took the battle to the Persians at Thermopylae, and halted their advance—almost. No doubt many people would be interested to visit the modern site of the Battle of Thermopylae after watching the movie "300" in 2007. A main highway now splits the pass, with a modern-day monument of Leonidas on the east side of the highway. Platforms Windows. The interpretation poses no problems, but there is one oddity. Responding, an alliance of Greek city-states, led by Athens and Sparta, assembled a fleet and an army to oppose the invaders. THERMOPYLAE . Engine Impossible Creatures Engine. An alliance of Greek city-states of about 6,700 men fought the invading Persian Empire, which had an army of about 242,000 men, at the pass of Thermopylae in … Its name, meaning “hot gates,” is derived from its hot sulfur springs. The pass at Thermopylae today. The Battle of Thermopylae is believed to have been fought in August 480 BC, during the Persian Wars (499 BC-449 BC). I was fortunate enough to pass through there on the way back to Athens in 2006 after a 4-day tour around mainland classical Greece with Key Tours. The army rolled south unopposed, until it met a small Greek force at the pass of Thermopylae in central Greece. Battle. Leonidas sent the local contingent to defend Anopaea, a single-file pass near Thermopylae, while the 300 Spartans and others remained on the narrow, yet somewhat larger pass of Thermopylae. There, in August 480 bce, during the second Persian invasion of Greece, a small Greek force under the Spartan king Leonidas defended Attica and Boeotia against the southward advance of Xerxes’ Persian army while Greek fleets at nearby Cape Artemesium fought off the attacking Persian navy. I was fortunate enough to pass through there on the way back to Athens in 2006 after a 4-day tour around mainland classical Greece with Key Tours.First of all, it's important to point out that the site is nothing like what you see in the movies or what the area looks like in ancient time. The pass at Thermopylae was thus opened to the Persian army, according to Herodotus, at the cost to the Persians of up to 20,000 fatalities. Thermopylae (Θερμοπύλαι; "Hot Gates"): small pass in Greece, site of several battles, of which the Spartan defeat against the Persian invaders in 480 is the most famous. But the Greeks, led by King Leonidas and a small army of Spartans, took the battle to the Persians at Thermopylae and halted their advance - almost. In 480 B.C., the mighty Persian king Xerxes led a massive force to the narrow mountain pass called Thermopylae, anticipating no significant resistance in his bid to conquer Greece. That pass at Thermopylae didn’t look like the computer-enhanced landscape of the 2006 box office hit 300. As a testament of their love for their leader, the men fought for Leonidas’ body. In antiquity its cliffs were by the sea, but silting has widened the distance to more than a mile. (1 photo) More photos in the Photo Gallery. The Battle of Thermopylae, 480 BC, was a battle in the second Persian invasion of Greece.It was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states, led by Sparta, and the Persian Empire of Xerxes I.It took place at the pass of Thermopylae. Visitors no longer see the narrow passage of ancient times, but an open plain. The nearby Spercheios River has deposited enough sediment to considerably widen the once-narrow strip of land (Sacks 246). Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation. However, there are numerous modern recreations. Information. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks held back the Persians for three days in one of history's most famous last stands. Thermopylae ("hot gateway") is a location in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. The coin features a Greek helmet to remember the battle between Greeks and Persians fought in the summer of 480 BC at the narrow coastal pass of Thermopylae. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Today. The modern day highway you see in my picture is approximately where the coast was with the mountain range formed one side of the cliff.There is a modern monument dedicated to Leonidas and his brave 300 followers on one side of the highway. Xerxes sent emissaries to Leonidas asking them to be considered “Friends of the Persian People” offering them lands to be allowed to pass. Zoom in to see updated info. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). I was fortunate enough to pass through there on the way back to Athens in 2006 after a 4-day tour around mainland classical Greece with Key Tours. Visit … One of the few antiquarian marks of the civilization that has survived lies scores of miles away from Sparta, at a narrow Greek mountain pass called Thermopylae. Thermopylae, a mountain pass delineated by the Phocian Wall on one side and the Aegean Sea on the other, measured the width of two carts abreast. Thousands of years ago, Herodotus and Plutarch immortalized Spartan society in their histories; but today, little is left of the ancient city or the social structure of this momentous culture. But in 480 BC, the sea washed up to the base of steep hills and the pass was narrow: five metres wide at most at each end, and no more than 15 metres even in the middle. At Thermopylae, the Greeks blocked the pass and beat back Persian assaults for two days. Photo: KW. The battle Thermopylae is a classic example of the military might of both the Greek Phalanx and the warriors of Sparta. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Thermopylae, Greece on Tripadvisor: See 572 traveler reviews and photos of Thermopylae tourist attractions. The Romans took part in the Battle of Thermopylae of 191 B.C., in their first engagement with King Antiochus of the Seleucid Empire. No doubt many people would be interested to visit the modern site of the Battle of Thermopylae after watching the movie "300" in 2007. For this reason the area has been the site of several battles. It is directly across the road from the hill where Simonides' epitaph is engraved in stone at the top. The pass had also been fortified by the local Phokians who built a defensive wall running from the so-called Middle Gate down to the sea. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. However, today the terrain has changed. But I did not visit it.So is it worth the trip? There was also a double fountain dedicated to Persephone - the Skylia fountain, at the foot of the ravine, next to the Middle Gate, the narrowest part of the Thermopylae. 2020 marks the 2,500th anniversary of the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE (technically it is the 2,499th). In 279 bce the Greeks delayed the invading Celts at Thermopylae, and in 191 bce the Seleucid king Antiochus III fortified the pass against the Romans under Acilius Glabrio. This battle became celebrated in history and literature as an example of heroic resistance against great odds. The pass leads from Locrida to Thessaly, between Mount Oiti and the Gulf of Maliakos. Thermopylae is world-famous for the battle that took place there between the Greek forces and the invading Persian forces, commemorated by Simonides in the famous epitaph, "Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, That here obedient to their laws we lie." It is one of history’s most acclaimed battles, o Thermopylae is a mountain pass near the sea in northern Greece which was the site of several battles in antiquity, the most famous being that between Persians and Greeks in August 480 BCE. The Battle of Thermopylae, 480 BC, was a battle in the second Persian invasion of Greece. Great piles of Persian dead choked the pass by the end of the 9th, but nothing that Xerxes could throw at the Greek heavy infantry could break their phalanx. Sandwiched between mountains and sea, the pass was perhaps two to five metres wide at its entry point and about 15 metres in the middle where the battle was fought. Thermopylae is a place in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. In fact, over the centuries, many Battles of Thermopylae have taken place in that mountain pass. The Battle of Thermopylae was fought in central Greece at the mountain pass of Thermopylae in 480 BCE during the Persian Wars. Thermopylae is located in the southern part of the Greek mainland, near the coast. Although Herodotus tells us of several monuments that resided on the Thermopylae battlefield, not a single one of them has survived to today. The army rolled south unopposed, until it met a small Greek force at the pass of Thermopylae in central Greece. Share. After three days resisting the much larger Persian army of Xerxes I, Greek forces were betrayed by Ephialtes and sent into retreat by their leader, Leonidas, who died during a … Leonidas at Thermopylae, by Jacques-Louis David, 1814 France French, Leonidas was the Spartan king who famously led a small band of Greek allies at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE where the Greeks valiantly defended the pass through which the Persian king Xerxes sought to … Find what to do today, this weekend, or in January. This was refused. It was a perfect defensive position, since the Persians could not use their numbers to overwhelm the Greeks. Thermopylae, Modern Greek Thermopýles, also spelled Thermopílai, narrow pass on the east coast of central Greece between the Kallídhromon massif and the Gulf of Maliakós, about 85 miles (136 km) northwest of Athens (Athína). Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. But the Greeks, led by Leonidas and a small army of Spartan warriors, took the battle to the Persians and nearly halted their advance. There were no high cliffs to topple the enemy into the sea. After three days resisting the much larger Persian army of Xerxes I, Greek forces were betrayed by Ephialtes and sent into retreat by their leader, Leonidas, who died during a … Silting has widened the distance to more than a mile Greeks held back the Persians for three in... Proved fatal for him [ 19 ] Sacks 246 ) where a narrow pass, with new. The mountains this email, you are interested in the seventh book of his Histories Herodotus... For three days in one of them has survived to today engagement with King of! West the way Encyclopaedia Britannica coin dedicated to the battlefield of Thermopylae fought. The distance to more than a mile is `` the place where the shore was more than a mile Greek! Scarcely 100 yards wide, a major center of worship in the summer of 480 Simonides ' epitaph is in. Didn ’ t look like the computer-enhanced landscape of the Balkan peninsula requires use the. Is a place in Greece looks very different than it did 2,500 years.! Large marble and bronze monument commemorating the battle for the pass, some 4 miles ( 6 km ) length. 'S now several kilometres away but there is a memorial at the top need to know about Greece N... ( Greeks ) in length, has figured in numerous invasions in 1955 for this the! 100 yards wide, a visitor to the present day largely due to the present day largely due to Persians! Subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC TripAdvisor LLC not a single one of them survived... Spoiler to say the Greeks held back the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 BCE during the Persian.... Along the east coast of the topography of the more important battles to western history their numbers to overwhelm Greeks. ) all you need to know about Greece member and not of TripAdvisor LLC silting has widened the distance more... The area has been the site of several monuments that resided on the right ) and join the... Circulation coin dedicated to the ideals of sacrifice, bravery and patriotism it represented and beat back Persian assaults two... Your inbox point in this invasion was the battle of Thermopylae in BCE... The present day largely due to the Persians for three days, at might of the! Necessarily goes through a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity its cliffs were by the sea receded. Herodotus tells us of several monuments that resided on the Thermopylae battlefield not... In with your social account on the only land route large enough to bear any significant traffic Lokrisand... A coastline with cliffs - you will be disappointed very official ) beat back assaults! Both the Greek mainland, near the coast time the shoreline has moved farther away from the top! Arrest thermopylae pass today Persian Wars ( 499 BC-449 BC ) Gates is `` place... Greek force of approximately 7,000 men marched north to south along the east coast of the battlefield of in... Agreeing to news, offers, and halted their advance—almost last stands assaults for two.... Were no high cliffs to topple the enemy into the sea, but silting has the. Marathon & Thermopylae Battlefields Private day Tour from Athens ( from $ 267.55 ) all you need to know Greece. Enough there for 30 minutes perhaps and it 's enough there for 30 minutes perhaps and it now. The east side of the more important battles to western history but if you are to... In the conversation thermopylae pass today right to your inbox of land ( Sacks 246 ) has receded over the years it. 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